Catheter balloon formed from a polymeric composite

• US 5,344,401 A
• Filed: 05/12/1993
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Interventional Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Radisch, Herbert R., Vigil, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilkens, Frank
• Application Number:
  US08/060,441
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96-103, 604/265, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/103.06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1031 Surface processing of balloon members, e.g. coating or deposition; Mounting additional parts onto the balloon member's surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1075 having a balloon composed of several layers, e.g. by coating or embedding
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1027 Making of balloon catheters

Abstract

A catheter balloon is provided for medical dilation procedures which is formed from a polymeric composite having an enhanced integrity. The balloon comprises an expandable central body and two tapered termini positioned at opposing ends of the body which are formed from a structural layer of continuous polymeric materials characterized as biaxially oriented in the body, but not in the tapered termini. A layer of an imide-containing polymer is provided external to the structural layer of the tapered termini to coat the termini and strengthen or otherwise enhance the integrity of the termini not having a biaxial orientation. The imide-containing polymer coating may further be continuously extended to the body of the balloon. The imide-containing polymer is applied to the structural layer of the balloon, in a liquid state and heat cured over time to produce a high-integrity coating.

Claims

1. A method for strengthening a portion of a catheter balloon, comprising the steps of:

providing a catheter balloon made from a first polymer, said balloon having a first region of relatively high tensile strength where said first polymer is biaxially oriented, and having a second region of relatively low tensile strength where said first polymer is not biaxally oriented;

applying a liquid coating of a second polymer to a surface of only said second region, said second polymer having a relatively high tensile strength; and

raising said balloon and said coating to a sufficiently high temperature to form a high tensile strength composite of said first and second polymers.

2. A method for strengthening a portion of a catheter balloon, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said second region has an inner surface and an outer surface; and

said step of applying said coating comprises the substeps of applying said coating to both inner and outer surfaces of said second region.

3. A method for strengthening a portion of a catheter balloon, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second region comprises a tapered end region of said balloon.

4. A method for strengthening a portion of a catheter balloon, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said first polymer is selected from the group consisting of PET, PETG, and mixtures thereof; and

said second polymer is applied to said surface in the absence of any bond enhancing treatment of said surface.

5. A method for strengthening a portion of a catheter balloon, as claimed in claim 3, wherein

said second polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and imide-containing polymers;

and

said high tensile strength of said second polymer is preserved by applying said second polymer in the form of a solution comprising said second polymer and a solvent, in the absence of a lubricant.

6. A method for strengthening the tapered ends of a catheter balloon, comprising the steps of:

selecting a first polymer from the group consisting of PET, PETG, and mixtures thereof;

providing a catheter balloon made from said first polymer, said balloon having a body of relatively high tensile strength where said first polymer is biaxially oriented, and having tapered ends of relatively low tensile strength where said first polymer is not biaxally oriented;

providing a second polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and imide-containing polymers, said second polymer being free of added lubricant;

applying a liquid coating of said second polymer to selected surfaces of only said tapered ends, in the absence of any bond enhancing treatment of said selected surfaces; and

raising said balloon and said coating to a sufficiently high temperature to form a high tensile strength composite of said first and second polymers at said tapered ends.